Will Pete Hegseth Be Removed as US Defense Secretary After Signal Chat Leak Scandal?
Pete Hegseth, the current U.S. Defense Secretary under President Donald Trump, is facing mounting pressure amid a growing scandal involving leaked military information through private Signal chats. The controversy stems from revelations that Hegseth reportedly shared sensitive operational plans concerning a military strike on Houthi targets in Yemen via two separate Signal group chats. One of these chats even included a senior U.S. journalist by mistake, while the second chat, now at the center of a fresh storm, involved his wife Jennifer Rauchet, brother Phil Hegseth, and attorney Tim Parlatore.
The second chat, which surfaced after the initial incident, has deepened the crisis, raising questions about Hegseth’s judgment and use of unclassified communication platforms to discuss matters of national security. Although some members of the group reportedly hold positions within the Pentagon, it remains unclear whether they had the necessary security clearance to access such high-level military information. Jennifer Rauchet, a former Fox News producer with no official ties to the Department of Defense, was seen in official Pentagon photographs attending high-level meetings with foreign military counterparts alongside her husband, adding to the perception of impropriety.
This explosive scandal is shaking the Trump administration just within its first 100 days, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth already drawing significant criticism from across the political spectrum. Senior Democrats have openly called for his resignation, citing the risk to national security and the reckless handling of classified material. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declared that Hegseth “must be fired,” accusing former President Trump of being too weak to act. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a decorated Iraq War veteran, echoed the sentiment, stating Hegseth should “resign in disgrace.”
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has been plunged into what insiders are calling “total chaos.” Former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot, who resigned just days ago, stated in a Politico opinion piece that Hegseth is unlikely to retain his position much longer. Ullyot alleged that senior Pentagon leadership is nearing collapse, blaming allies of Hegseth for orchestrating smear campaigns against three senior staffers who were recently fired as part of a broader internal probe into the leaks.
Further complicating the matter, a memo dated March 21 and signed by Hegseth’s chief of staff Joe Kasper has surfaced, calling for an investigation into the unauthorized disclosures. The memo even suggested polygraph tests to determine the source of the leaks. However, the three aides who were dismissed have not been subjected to lie detector tests, according to Ullyot. In a joint statement, these former staff members expressed their disappointment with how their service ended and accused anonymous officials of launching baseless attacks against them.
While senior Trump officials have attempted to downplay the incident, claiming the media is relying too heavily on disgruntled former employees, the fallout continues to intensify. The Department of Defense is facing increasing scrutiny not just over the leaks, but also the internal disarray and the presence of non-official individuals in classified settings. The exposure of flight schedules of F/A-18 Hornets involved in operations against the Houthis has only added fuel to the fire, especially considering the national security implications.
As pressure continues to mount, the question remains: will Pete Hegseth be forced to step down as Defense Secretary? With calls for his resignation growing louder and internal investigations underway, the future of his tenure looks increasingly uncertain.
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